Draws on the experiences of the Sheffield Early Literacy Development project to explore ways in which teachers can be equipped to work with parents to promote early literacy development. Raises issues related to the training of teachers who work with parents. Advocates the use of a variety of training options and maintains that training is…

Explores issues for counselor education programs raised by federal legislation requiring services for children from birth if they are at risk or have disabilities. Sees need for educational services to help parents understand these children's needs. Explores counselor preparation issues using Dimensions of Counselor Functioning model, focusing on…

A questionnaire about "spoiling" an infant was completed by 303 parents. Three types of spoiling beliefs (disbelievers, believers, and happy spoilers) were identified and correlated with demographics, definitions of spoiling, and belief about spoiling's impact on development. Results have implications for early interventionists working…

Guidelines are presented for special educators designing a parent training program. The article includes a sample training format, a comparison of seven commercial parent training programs, and the identification of "best practices" in parent training (e.g., "group parents based on common need" and "establish clear goals"). (DB)

A study of 144 children (age 10) investigated whether parental verbal violence had negative effects on self-esteem and academic achievement. Results found parental verbal aggression alone, as separate and distinct from physical punishment, contributed to low self-esteem and school achievement. The need for parent education on child rearing is…

Describes the Shared Reading Program, a home-school effort of Gallaudet University's Pre-College National Mission Programs. Under the program, mentors teach parents and caregivers how to read to deaf children using American Sign Language. Describes a family with six young children includes 12 tips for reading to a deaf child. (DB)

Founded by Norma Gray in 1972 as an early-childhood demonstration center, River Valley Child Development Services now operates various programs related to young children in nine southern West Virginia counties and a statewide apprenticeship program for child-development specialists. Programs provide child care, after-school programs,…

Program materials used in more than half the U.S. counties that have court-connected educational programs for divorcing parents are reviewed. Sources of materials, conceptual foundations, topics presented, teaching strategies, and evaluation efforts are studied. Results and recommendations for design of programs are discussed. Program review form…

A home-based interventionist effectively taught four mothers to embed the mand-model procedure in daily activities to teach expressive language skills to their young children with speech delays. During the intervention phase, parents were provided with feedback along with specific encouragement to use the individualized instructional program…

This article describes the development of an autism-specific three-month parent education program by Britain's National Autistic Society (NAS). The NAS EarlyBird Programme emphasizes partnerships with parents and uses weekly group training sessions and individualized home visits to teach parents about autism, social communication, and prevention…

Since 1988, the Jose Valdes Summer Math Institutes have helped some 4,800 (mostly minority) students get a running start on their high school careers. The program consists of four main elements: intensive math instruction for students, training for teachers, parent education, and a student support program. (MLH)

Poised to help legally homeless parents become their children's best teachers, instructors in a Nevada literacy program found that human relationships took precedence over academics. Instructors learned the importance of renaming the program (to avoid association with prior academic failure) and blending literacy activities with hot meals, family…

This study developed and evaluated a model of good practice linking diagnosis and intervention in young children with autism. Ten toddlers with autism underwent an intervention involving home visits, modeling, workshops and written information with parents as 'therapists' in naturally occurring situations. Within 18 months all children made…

This study examined spankers and nonspankers on the messages they received from eight sources of discipline information and how important they perceived these messages to be. Data showed that 33% of mothers rated advice from workshops, pediatricians, newspapers and magazines, and books as "very important." Less than 15% rated parents, relatives…

This article presents an overview of the Regional Intervention Program (RIP) and describes ongoing studies to examine the long-term effects of behavioral skill training for parents of preschoolers who engaged in severe forms of aggression and antisocial behavior. Findings from the program indicate positive outcomes for adults and children.…